• Nine chimps retired from south Louisiana research center
  • More than a hundred more are expected to join them

By Anna Edwards

PUBLISHED: 04:37 EST, 20 February 2013 | UPDATED: 08:53 EST, 20 February 2013

 

The first laboratory chimpanzees from a south Louisiana research center have got a taste of the great outdoors after they were ‘retired’ to a national sanctuary.

Nine chimps were taken from University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s New Iberia Research Center and have been given a sprawling home in the ‘Chimp Haven’ sanctuary in Keithville.

And as these photos show, the chimps were thrilled – if a little nervous – about their new home.

 

Hold tight! A mother chimp holds a piece of lettuce in her mouth as she carries her baby at Chimp Haven in KeithvilleHold tight! A mother chimp holds a piece of lettuce in her mouth as she carries her baby at Chimp Haven in Keithville

 

chimpAll mine! A hungry chimp gathers food. It is one of the first of 111 chimpanzees coming to the national sanctuary for chimpanzees

chimpsGetting to know their new home: Chimps use sticks to poke into a mock termite mound to taste a sweet substance

World’s only retirement home for chimps

The curious creatures munched on fruit and explored their new home, larking about in the sunshine and wandering around their wild habitat.

The research center, which no longer has an NIH chimp research contract, is expected to deliver seven more tomorrow and a further 95 will make their way to the outdoor haven in the following months, according to Yahoo.

The huge research center, which has ’6,000 non-human primates representing eight species’ studies and tests chimps for ‘research aimed at promoting human quality of life.’

      Excited to be outside             Hatching a plan

 

Play with me! A baby chimp rolls around in the grass as the chimps get to know their new homePlay with me! A baby chimp rolls around in the grass as the chimps get to know their new home

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